September 15, 2024 Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) It would be difficult to miss the connection between the symbolism of the First Reading (Isa. 50:5-9a) and the narrative of the Gospel from Mark (8:27-35) for today, which is where we find one of the three passion predictions made by Jesus to his disciples. The reading from Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a victim, an Israelite often known as the Suffering Servant, who describes the suffering from his…..
January 7th, 2024 At first glance, the connection between the First Reading (Isaiah 60:1-6) and the Gospel (Matthew 2:1-12) for the Feast of the Epiphany seems to be very obvious. Isaiah pronounces that kings from foreign lands will follow the radiance of the Lord, a star in the sky, and bring gifts of gold and frankincense. In the Gospel what appear to be these same foreigners are the magi visiting the newborn babe and bearing said gifts, along with myrrh……
This Sunday we commemorate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. But there is another holy family which is celebrated today. It is the family of Abraham, first chosen by God to bring salvation to the broken world of Adam and Eve, the salvation which is completed by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The plan of salvation first begins when God calls Abraham, originally known as Abram, from his clan and country, Haran, and…..
This Sunday we commemorate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. But there is another holy family which is celebrated today. It is the family of Abraham, first chosen by God to bring salvation to the broken world of Adam and Eve, the salvation which is completed by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The plan of salvation first begins when God calls Abraham, originally known as Abram, from his clan and country, Haran, and…..
December 17, 2023 Third Sunday of Advent On this Third Sunday of Advent, we a hear a Gospel from John (Jn. 1:6-8, 19-28) which is similar to the one from last week. It is the scene where John the Baptist is preaching repentance in the desert and announcing the imminent arrival of the Messiah. The writer of John’s Gospel describes him as the one who “came to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.” (Jn. 1:6)……
December 10, 2023 Second Sunday of Advent Today we celebrate the Second Sunday of Advent and it brings a continuation of the Advent themes considered last Sunday. These were the ideas of watchfulness and waiting for the coming of Jesus, as well as a new personal beginning we can make at the start of a new liturgical year. It is a time when we can adapt an interior disposition of repentance and prepare our hearts and minds for Christ. The…..
December 3, 2023 First Sunday of Advent (Year B) Today we celebrate the First Sunday of Advent, the Latin word for “coming.” Advent is a time when we recall the birth of our Savior over two-thousand years ago in Bethlehem, as well as acknowledge our anticipation of the “Second Coming,” or return of Christ. This is the theme that we see in the Gospel for today where Jesus is describing his second coming to his disciples (Mk. 13:33-37). He tells…..
November 26, 2023 The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe Today we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King. This is a title derived from Jesus’ announcement that the kingdom of God had arrived with his Galilean ministry (Mk. 1:15). It is also the title that Pontius Pilate ironically had placed above his head to mock Jesus as he was nailed to the cross (Jn. 19:19). With his ascension, Jesus would ultimately fulfill this role taking…..
November 19, 2023 Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) Like the passage from the book of Wisdom and the Parable of the Ten Virgins from last week, both the First Reading and the parable from Matthew today give us wise words on how to live faithfully according to the Gospel. The First Reading is taken from the book of Proverbs (Prov. 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31) which is another one of the wisdom books found in the Old Testament. Like the…..
November 5, 2023 (Year A) Today’s readings are a warning from the Lord directed toward priests, rabbis, and other religious leaders. Here these men are warned of the ramifications which will befall them should they break the commandments in their roles of setting examples for their followers. The First Reading is from Malachi (Mal. 1:14b-2:2b), the last book of the Old Testament. The prophet Malachi ministered in Jerusalem after the people had returned from exile and rebuilt the temple. The…..